European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno announces hunger strike to draw international attention to civilians trapped in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Ukraine

Vice President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, has announced a hunger strike to bring global awareness to the dire situation in Oleshky, a city in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian Kherson region. Picierno urged humanitarian groups and nations to take note of her protest, urging an immediate humanitarian truce, the delivery of food and medicines, and safe evacuation for residents wishing to exit the city.

Oleshky has been under Russian control for months, with its inhabitants lacking electricity, food, and adequate medical care due to ongoing shelling from both sides. Leaving the city is nearly impossible as most roads out are mined. Recently, Pope Leo XIV reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure aid could reach the city and residents could be evacuated.

Ukrainian Parliament’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, later confirmed that Kyiv and Moscow were working to address the issue. Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, also confirmed this. The humanitarian crisis in Oleshky is severe, with residents enduring the smell of death as food deliveries cease and safe evacuation becomes nearly impossible.